Dr. Peter Mason

Image Peter Mason
Research Scientist

Dr. Peter G. Mason is a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Ottawa, Canada. The focus of his research is invasive alien species and classical biological control with particular emphasis on host-range assessment and non-target impacts of parasitoids. This research has been central to formulating a science-based response to a changing regulatory environment for biological control agents worldwide. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Current research and/or projects

Latest publications

Mason PG (2021) Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia.

Zaviezo T, Grez A, Miall JH, Mason PG (2021) Conservation biological control. Pp. 37–66 In Mason PG (Ed) Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia.

Weber D, Hajek AE, Hoelmer KA, Schaffner U, Mason PG, Stouthamer R, Talamas EJ, Buffington M, Haye T (2021) Unintentional biological control. Pp. 110–140 In Mason PG (Ed) Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia.

Barratt, BIP, Colmanarez Y, Day MD, Ivey P, Klapwijk JN, Loomans AJM, Mason PG, Palmer WA, Sankaran KV (2021) Regulatory challenges for biological control. Pp. 166–198 In Mason PG (Ed) Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia.

Mason PG, Klapwijk JN, Smith D  (2021) Access and Benefit-Sharing of Biological Control Genetic Resources. Pp. 197–219 In Mason PG (Ed) Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia.

van Lenteren J, Mason PG, Bueno VHP, Cock MJW, Colmenarez YC, Luna MG (2021) Biological control successes and failures: Latin American Region. Pp. 511–554 In Mason PG (Ed) Biological Control: Global Impacts, Challenges and Future Directions of Pest Management. CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Victoria, Australia.

Haye T, Dancau T, Bennett AMR, Mason PG (2021) The impact of parasitoids on diamondback moth in Europe: A life table approach. The Canadian Entomologist 153: 741–756.  https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2021.43 

Cock C, Mason PG, Haye T, Cappuccino N (2021) Determining the host range of Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), a candidate biological control agent for diamondback moth Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Canada. Biological Control 161: 104705. doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104705

Mason PG, Dancau T, Abram PK, Noronha C, Dixon PK, Parsons, CR, Bahar MD, Bennett AMR, Fernández-Triana JL, Brauner AM, Clarke P, Thiessen J, Gillespie DR, Haye T (2022) The parasitoid complex of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), in Canada: Impact and status. The Canadian Entomologist 154: e12. doi:10.4039/tce.2021.51. 

Abram PK, Thiessen J, Clarke P, Gillespie DR, Fernández-Triana JL, Bennett AMR, Gibson GAP, Huber JT, Mason PG, Landry J-F (2022) Natural history of Plutella armoraciae, a sympatric congener of the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) in northwestern North America. Journal of Lepidopterist’s Society 76 (1): 25–39.  

Key publications

  1. Mason PG, De Clerck-Floate RA, Gallant B, Gillespie DR, Floate K, Bourchier R, Douglas H, Vincent C, Boivin G (2017) Guide for the Importation and Release of Arthropod Biological Control Agents in Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada A42-122/2017E.

    2017 - View publication details

  2. Konopka, J.K., Haye, T., Gariepy, T., Mason, P., Gillespie, D., McNeil, J.N. (2017). An exotic parasitoid provides an invasional lifeline for native parasitoids. Ecology and Evolution, [online] 7(1), 277-284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2577

    2017 - View publication details

  3. Cossentine, J.E., Mason, P.G., Brauner, A.M., Gariepy, T.D., Fraser, H.M., Pate, E., Blatt, S.E., Robertson, M.C., and Franklin, J.L. (2016). "Parasitism of Apple Leaf Curling Midge in Canadian Apple Orchards.", Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention 2016, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, February, 2016.

    2016 - View publication details

  4. Vincent, C., Carisse, O., and Mason, P.G. (2016). "Integrated pest management practices, ecological services and agroecosystem resilience.", Workshop “Making Agro-Ecosystems More Resilient”, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Canada, June 6, 2016. (Presentation)

    2016 - View publication details

  5. Vincent, C., Boyetchko, S.M., Gariepy, T.D., and Mason, P.G. (2016). "La lutte biologique: principes, mode d’emploi, verrous et non-dits.", In Symposium «La lutte biologique: regards transatlantiques» (O. Carisse, C. Vincent, C. Regnault-Roger orgs.), Académie d’Agriculture de France, Paris, France, 9 mars 2016. (Presentation)

    2016 - View publication details

  6. Blackman, C.K., Cappuccino, N., Mason, P.G. (2016). First Record of Lilioceris lilii (Scopoli) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on Lilium michiganense Farwell and Confirmation of Its Association with Streptopus lanceolatus (Aiton) Reveal (Liliaceae). Coleopterists Bulletin, [online] 70(3), 482-484. http://dx.doi.org/10.1649/0010-065X-70.3.482

    2016 - View publication details

  7. Ma, B.L., A. Herath, W. Wu, and P. Mason. 2016. Canola: A made-in-Canada crop – research strategies towards sustainable canola production. Poster presentation at the Ottawa Doors Open event. Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Jun 5.

    2016 - View publication details

  8. Cossentine, J.E, Mason, PG, Brauner, AM, Gariepy, TD, Fraser, HM, Pate, E, Blatt, SE, Robertson, MC and Franklin, JL. 2016. Parasitism of apple leaf curling midge in Canadian apple orchards. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, February

    2016 - View publication details

  9. Mason, P.G., Cock, M.J.W., Barratt, B.I.P., van Lenteren, J.C., and Brodeur, J. (2015). "Biological control as a tool for mitigating the impacts of invasive alien species.", Expert Meeting on Alien Species in Wildlife Trade: experiences in the use of biological control agents and development if decision support tools for management of invasive alien species, Montréal, Québec, Canada, October 28-30, 2015, pp. 31.

    2015 - View publication details

  10. Cossentine, J.E., Blatt, S.E., Mason, P.G., Brauner, A.M., Franklin, J.L., Robertson, M.C., and Gariepy, T.D. (2015). "Understanding parasitism of Dasineura mali (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Canadian apple orchards.", Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Quebec and Canada, Montréal, Québec, Canada, November 2015. (Poster)

    2015 - View publication details

  11. Cossentine, J.E., Mason, P.G., Brauner, A.M., Fraser, H.M., Grigg-McGuffin, K., Appleby, M.E., Gariepy, T.D., Blatt, S.E., Franklin, J.L., Robertson, M.C., and Hueppelsheuser, T. (2015). "Apple Leaf Curling Midge: Identifying the Natural Enemy Complex.", Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention, Niagara Falls, ON, Canada, February 2015.

    2015 - View publication details

  12. Haye, T., Mason, P.G., Gillespie, D.R., Miall, J.H., Gibson, G.A.P., Diaconu, A., Brauner, A.M., Kuhlmann, U. (2015). Determining the host specificity of the biological control agent Trichomalus perfectus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae): the importance of ecological host range, 25(1), 21-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2014.945900

    2015 - View publication details

  13. Fernandez, C., Carcamo, H., Cárcamo, H.A., Laird, R.A., Mason, P.G., Otani, J.K., and Lachance, S. (2014). "Ecological interactions between lygus bugs and Peristenus: an approach in southern Alberta.", 2014 Joint Annual Meeting of Entomological Society of Saskatchewan and Entomological Society of Canada, Saskatoon SK, Canada, September 28-October 1, 2014, pp. 37.

    2014 - View publication details

  14. Cossentine, J.E., Blatt, S.E., Mason, P.G., Franklin, J.L., Brauner, A.M., Robertson, M.C., Appleby, M.E., Grigg-McGuffin, K., Fraser, H.M., Hueppelsheuser, T., and Gariepy, T.D. (2014). "Adventures in moving: The challenges in introducing a classical biological control agent into other provinces.", 2014 Joint Annual Meeting of Entomological Society of Saskatchewan and Entomological Society of Canada, Saskatoon SK, Canada, September 28-October 1, 2014, Poster Presentation.

    2014 - View publication details

  15. Cossentine, J.E., Blatt, S.E., Mason, P.G., Franklin, J.L., Brauner, A.M., Robertson, M.C., Appleby, M.E., Grigg-McGuffin, K., Fraser, H.M., Hueppelsheuser, T., and Gariepy, T.D. (2014). "Adventures in moving. The challenges in introducing a classical biological control agent into other provinces.", 2014 Joint Annual Meeting of Entomological Society of Saskatchewan and Entomological Society of Canada, Saskatoon SK, Canada, September 28-October 1, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  16. Vincent, C., Mason, P.G., and Gillespie, D.R. (2014). "La lutte biologique au Canada.", Conférence à l’Unité de recherche FRE 3498-Ecologie et Dynamiques des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France, 20 février 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  17. Vincent, C., Mason, P.G., and Gillespie, D.R. (2014). "Portrait de la lutte biologique au Canada.", Académie d’Agriculture de France, Paris, France, 5 février 2014. (Presentation)

    2014 - View publication details

  18. Fernández, D.C., Cárcamo, H.A., Laird, R.A., Mason, P.G., Otani, J.K., and Lachance, S. (2014). "Ecological interactions between lygus bugs and Peristenus: an approach in southern Alberta.", 2014 Joint Annual Meeting of Entomological Society of Saskatchewan and Entomological Society of Canada, Saskatoon SK, Canada, September 28-October 1, 2014.

    2014 - View publication details

  19. Fernandez-Triana, J., Shaw, M.R., Cardinal, S., Dosdall, L., Mason, P. (2014). First Nearctic record of Diolcogaster claritibia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with notes on taxonomic status and natural history. The Canadian Entomologist, [online] 146(6), 609-620. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2014.16

    2014 - View publication details

  20. Jenner, W.H., Kuhlmann, U., Miall, J.H., Cappuccino, N., Mason, P.G. (2014). Does parasitoid state affect host range expression?. Biological Control, [online] 78 15-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2014.07.005

    2014 - View publication details

Contact

Research facility

Ottawa Research and Development Centre
960 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6
Canada

Expertise

Agriculture›Entomology›Biocontrol

Language

English